IRS to Delay Start of Tax Season Due to Shutdown

The shutdown is over, but the fallout continues. Yes, the panda cam is back up and running and we’re all thankful for that. The IRS, however, is still working out the kinks. Admittedly, the IRS has a slightly more complex job than the National Zoo, and on Tuesday announced it’s not going to be ready for tax season.

Before you get too excited, however, the change should affect only the most diligent of American taxpayers. The filing season, which is surely the least anticipated “season” on the American calendar, was to begin on Jan. 21st, but it will be delayed by up to two weeks, the Associated Press reports, in order to give IRS programmers time to update the agency’s computers. The 16-day government shutdown put a hold on their work, which led to the delay.

So, if you were planning on filing on opening day in order to get your refund ASAP, you’re going to have to wait. For everyone else, you’re still on the hook to file by April 15th, which remains the deadline.